Mães de santo (mothers of saints) in Candomblé

the 50 years of the Ialorixá Mãe Francis de Iemanja

Abstract

The article analyses the role of women in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, regarded by many scholars as a matriarchal religion, through the experience of the mãe de santo (ialorixá) Mãe Francis de Iemanjá. It also reviews the history of Candomblé in the context of slavery and the deportation of Yoruba priests from Nigeria to Brazil.

Candomblé religious practices take place in terreiros, spaces composed of different rooms. The first terreiros were established in Salvador de Bahia and later spread throughout Brazil. The origins of female leadership in Candomblé are closely linked to the foundation of these religious spaces. In this regard, the establishment of Casa Branca do Engenho Velho represents a key milestone in the institutionalisation of Candomblé.

Each terreiro is led by either a pai de santo or a mãe de santo. The trajectory of the ialorixá Mãe Francis de Iemanjá, leader of Ilê Axé Yá Ejá, illustrates the centrality of female leadership in African-derived religions.

The figure of the ialorixá extends beyond the religious sphere, as she simultaneously acts as a mother, spiritual guide, counsellor, and administrator. The experience of Mãe Francis de Iemanjá demonstrates how Candomblé has become a fundamental force in the construction of Afro-Brazilian identities and in the struggle for social justice in Brazil.